What to do there
Visitors are spoilt for choice with the unforgettable sights of the Egmont National Park, which encompasses the mountain and the land around it, offering marvellous hikingopportunities. Lush rainforest covers the foothills of the mountain, but the landscape changes the higher you go from the tall rimu and kamahi trees at lower altitudes through dense sub-alpine shrubs to an alpine herb field, with some plants unique to the park.
For those who prefer water under their feet, Surf highway 45 is a 105-kilometre stretch of highway that runs between New Plymouth and Hawera. With its 180 degrees of ocean swells, the surf is always pumping. The way the land mass projects into the Tasman Sea with northerly, westerly and southerly exposures results in many excellent surfing and windsurfing locations, some of them considered world class. Horseback riding is also popular here with black sand beaches offering unlimited trails, or for something more laid back there are five golf courses scattered along the highway. The other highway to check out is State Highway 43, better known as the Forgotten World Highway, which winds its way around the wonderful mountain. The forest on Mount Taranaki's middle slopes is sometimes known as 'Goblin Forest' because of the gnarled shape of the trees and the thick swathes of trailing moss. In winter, Mount Taranaki becomes a place to ski. The sunny city of New Plymouth is well-known for its glorious parks and gardens, particularly the dazzling array of rhododendrons and azaleas on display in spring. Many magnificent private gardens are open for public viewing year round.
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